Awen is a Welsh word for "(poetic) inspiration". In the Welsh tradition, awen is the inspiration of the poet bards; or, in its personification, Awen is the inspirational muse of creative artists in general: the inspired individual (often, but not limited to being, a poet or a soothsayer) is described as an awenydd. Emma Restall Orr, founder and former head of The Druid Network, defines awen as `flowing spirit' and says that `Spirit energy in flow is the essence of life'.[1]
In current usage, awen is sometimes ascribed to musicians and poets. It is also occasionally used as a female given name.
It appears in the third stanza of Hen Wlad fy Nhadau, the national anthem of Wales.[2]